[VFB] Fishing Report - JIMMY

[Jimmy D. Moore]

Ok, Gang,

I've been home a week from Oregon, so I guess it's time that I post my fishing report for the trip. Last week was really hectic, with all the problems I had with flooding at the ranch. Had 6 " of rain while we were gone, then sifting through 800 + emails and getting ready for our quarterly TU meeting last Saturday.

Arrived in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, Oct. 11. Spent Saturday with Jody's Mom and sisters. Sunday - my brother-in-law Tom and I hit the McKenzie River in his drift boat. Tom grew up on the river and learned to row a drift boat at age 10, so I wasn't worried about us "messing up" in the white water. Besides, I've been in the boat with Tom several other years and he never ceases to amaze me with his ability to get through dangerous runs, dips, swirls, etc. that the McKenzie can throw at us.

Tom decided that we should fish a stretch of the river where the water was calmer this year, which was alright with me. Hard to catch'em in the boiling current anyway. Tom started with a # 12 Stimulator and me a #12 Renegade. We both caught rainbows, and cutts, nothing really spectacular, but about 20 each that afternoon, the largest being a 16" that I coaxed out from under a bush.

Day two - more of the same.(same flies) Largest fish, a bow of 18" by Tom. My largest was about 10". Caught lots of fish but was disappointed in their size.

Day three - Uneventful other than catching about 25 assorted bows and cutts. I fished Rick's Tennis Ball Fuzz Caddis.( I think it was Rick's) Tom fished a Royal Wulf.

Day four - Tom decided we'd try the steelhead, so we went to Leaburg Dam and put in just below the "fish ladder" and anchored in the roiling white water where the steelies were trying to climb the ladder in their quest to get upstream to their birthplace. This was really tough fishing. Tom caught a couple of nice ones around 35" on an Egg Sucking Leech. I didn't catch a one. Saw literally dozens of them stacked up near the fish ladder, but they weren't interested in my Skykomish Sunrise, Thor or my purple Egg Sucking Leech. All they had on their minds was climbing that dam ladder.( I went back on Day 5, by myself and fished from the bank, but guess what? NO STEELIES anywhere. But, "That's Steelhead Fishing."

So, there you have it folks. Great trip and I didn't get out of the drift boat except for a couple of times to fish gravel bars. Good thing! My ankle wasn't and still isn't ready for any prolonged wading. Doc says it'll be another 6 months before I'm back to normal. Maybe I'll get my steelie next year.

Will post photos when I get my Scanner working again.

Cheers!

Jimmy D. Moore, "BIGTROUTMAN" I FISH BECAUSE I MUST! More importantly, I fish because my Dad taught me!
Author,Outdoor Writer,TOWA, TF&G,VP-GRTU Owner/Webmaster - Worldwide Flyfishing Info.
http://www.BIGTROUTMAN.homestead.com/MainPage.html